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Many mommybloggers start blogging under a nom de blog, a pseudonym or alias that sometimes is intended to keep their family from finding out about their blog as well as to keep the world according to Google from finding out about their family.
Recently two mommybloggers that I read have dropped their nom de blogs and come out to the Blogosphere about their real identities. Lucinda of Suburban Turmoil has been blogging under her pseudonum, Lucinda, since August 2005. In early June of this year, she was offered a column in her town's weekly newspaper. However, the editor wanted her to use her real name. After much consideration, Lucinda agreed. She wrote on her blog:
"Tomorrow, my town and anyone else who Googles my name will be able to read this blog and find out exactly what I think about the secretly-evil crossing guard, the stoner bag boy, and the perfectly toned bitches at the local gym. You can still call me Lucinda if you like. That's the me the blog world knows, and I've grown quite fond of the name myself. But you should also know something else.
My real name is Lindsay Ferrier. And this is my blog."
In a recent column she wrote for the online feminist publication mamazine.com, Lindsay revisits her decision to reveal her true identity on her blog and in her local paper. Life as a local blogging celebrity isn't always easy.
...Since I've gone public on my blog, my husband and I both have heard from locals who just can't believe I'm writing candidly about stuff like bikini waxing, funny bedroom conversations and post partum depression.
"Isn't it embarrassing?" People ask Hubs. "Aren't you worried about what she'll come out with next?"
But regardless of the comments by the "plastic people," as Lindsay calls her seemingly perfect (at least on the surface) suburban neighbors, she is glad that she has come "out of the blogging closet." For her, knowing that she is being true to both herself and the world at large is "quite liberating."
Vicky of Procrastamom now also knows that feeling of liberation. Formerly of Desperate to Be a Housewife, she decided she no longer could blog pseudonymously. On her new out-of-the-blogging-closet blog Procrastamom, she writes:
"Over a year ago I started a blog. I tried to write. I tried to be funny. I tried to be open. But I was dishonest. I hid too much. I glossed over my family’s identity with nicknames. I allowed my friends and family to convince me that using my children’s real names, my real name, my husband’s real name or where we lived would somehow subject us to DANGER. Like all the crazies of the world were just waiting for some suburban mom like me to lower her protective shield so they could swoop in and manipulate her life. Well guess what? If you’re out to get me just look me up in the phone book. Look any of us blogging moms up in the phone book. Look us up on the internet or on the PTA phone list or check out one of the billion emergency forms we’ve filled out for our kids over the years. We’re there. You’ll find us if you want to. I’m here. I’m ready to be honest."
Not a mommyblogger, but an anonymous blogger going through an identity crisis, The Visitor writes about his/her guilt with his/her anonymous blogging persona:
"...While I wanted to keep myself anonymous, everyone else with whom I've 'interacted' have been very frank and open about themselves. 'Knowing about the writer' has helped me put the writer's ideas in perspective and appreciate the post better. In fact, the blogs of those who have been very open have appealed to me a lot.
I feel guilty (about being anonymous)..."
Is it always true that both writers and bloggers prefer non-anonymous blogging? What I find especially interesting about moms and other bloggers finding liberation through coming out and dropping their noms de blog is that as an "out" blogger myself, I sometimes wish I did have a more anonymous blogging persona. I often feel stifled by the fact that my words might have a direct impact on somebody.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Mary Tsao also blogs at Mom Writes.
